Thanks for Caring #SOL19

“Mrs. Wyman? Are kids allowed to give teachers a Country Cares sticker?” This is the question one of my sweet Kindergarten boys asked me one day last week.

For a bit of background, our elementary school’s core values are CARES — compassion, adventure, respect, effort, and safety. To serve as a bit of motivation for students to learn about and live by these values, as well as kindness, our Principal had Country Cares stickers made, and all faculty and staff were given sheets of them to hand out to students (and fellow faculty and staff members! ) when they see fit to do so throughout the year. Now as you can imagine, as with any new initiative, not everyone is on board with this practice. However, last year was a very challenging year in our building with many children struggling for one reason or another. (If you read my Slices last year, you may remember learning about my experiences in particular.) Receiving these stickers has been highly motivating for some of these students. They go home hugely proud at the end of the day, and part of our practice is also for faculty and staff to ask students, when they see them sporting a sticker, to ask how they earned it. Again, recipients beam with pride.

Putting all that aside, back to my student and his question. My answer? “Why yes, you certainly may. Who would you like to give one to? ” I asked. “You!” he replied. “But why?” I asked. “Because you are always kind to all of us.” And with that, tears welled up in my eyes, and I asked if I could give him a hug. Day made.

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Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here each Tuesday and every day in March. Won’t you join us?